Jewelry having two or more faceted stones

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a piece of jewelry, such as a ring, comprising two faceted stones of different colors, one placed on top of the other, to produce a distinctly new faceted color combination. Unique color combinations are thus achieved based on the particular stones that are used.

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of Ser. No. 11/439,910, filedon May 24, 2006, which in turn is based on and claims priority of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/687,113 filed Jun. 3, 2005

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Jewelry, including rings, necklaces, bracelets and the like typicallycomprise metals such as gold, silver, platinum or various combinationsthereof, and faceted precious or semiprecious stones that are mountedinto one or more settings within a given piece of jewelry. In thecontext of jewelry having a plurality of stones, the stones are mountedbeside one another in a generally linear or somewhat offset linearformation (i.e., one stone is slightly raised relative to other stonesbeside it) such that at least the top portion of all of the stones areclearly visible when viewing the particular piece of jewelry. In theseconventional forms of jewelry, when a ruby, for example, is mounted in aparticular location, the color perceived at that location will be red;with a sapphire, the color perceived will be blue; with an amethyst thecolor will be purple; with a yellow topaz the color perceived will beyellow and so on and so forth. While a particular color given off by anyone stone may be aesthetically pleasing for a period of time, it is ofcourse strictly limited to the specific stone used in the setting of thejewelry. In particular, for a faceted one-stone ring or other piece ofjewelry, this may lead to monotony and dullness and ultimately cause auser to cease wearing that piece of jewelry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a piece of jewelry,such as a ring, comprising two faceted stones of different colors, oneplaced on top of the other, to produce a distinctly new faceted colorcombination. The unique color combinations are reflected in theparticular stones that are used. For example, a ring may combine aPeridot stone, which is predominantly green in color, with a Blue Topaz,wherein the green of the Peridot and the blue of the Blue Topaz transmitthrough one another bringing about a color combination of greenish-bluethat is different from each stone individually. These color combinationsare the product of positioning one stone on top of the other in asetting.

In a preferred form, one stone is adhered to the second stone by meansof an optical cement.

In a preferred embodiment, the inventive jewelry item has a settingcomprising a four-post “basket” for holding a bottom stone of a firstcolor in place. The basket permits substantial viewing of the bottomstone on all four of its sides as well as through the bottom of thebasket, which may be exposed as well. At the top of the basket, there isprovided a circular shoulder or band for holding the top stone of adifferent color in place above the bottom stone. Accordingly, in thepreferred embodiment, the setting permits substantial viewing of boththe top and bottom stones when the stones are properly positioned.

In addition, one embodiment also utilizes stones of the same or similar“cut,” wherein the facets of each stone are of the same or similaroverall configuration. After both stones are properly set, a userlooking directly downward through the top stone into the bottom stonemay also see a “kaleidoscope” type effect as the ring is rotated.

Different color and stone combinations include Peridot with Blue Topaz(as discussed above), Amethyst with Light Blue Topaz, Citrin with DarkBlue Topaz, etc. may be used. Certainly, other complimenting coloredstones may be used in practicing the invention as well. Of course,different metals or combinations thereof may be used in the constructionof the setting as well.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an item ofjewelry having at least two faceted stones of different colors.

Another object of the invention is to provide an item of jewelry havingat least two faceted stones of different colors with one stone placed ontop of the other.

An additional object of the invention is to provide to faceted stones ofdifferent colors that are mounted to one another by means of an opticalcement.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an item of jewelryhaving at least two faceted stones of different colors and which permitssubstantial viewing of both stones.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious fromthe following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to thefollowing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ring assembly made in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 1A is an exploded view of two faceted stones of different colors tobe used in the ring assembly showing FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a pendant assembly made inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is rear elevational view of the pendant assembly depicted in FIG.5; and

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a necklace assembly made inaccordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, a ring assembly made in accordance withthe invention and generally indicated at 11 is now described. Ringassembly 11 includes a band 13 and a setting generally indicated at 15in which a top faceted stone 27 and a bottom faceted stone 31, each of adifferent color than the other, are mounted one on top of the other,preferably by means of the use of an optical cement, which is appliedsubstantially evenly to the areas along stones 27 and 31 where the twostones are in contact.

An optical cement is a permanent and transparent (translucent) adhesivethat is capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. Canada balsam is acommon optical cement, although an optical cement to be used in theinventive assembly may also be selected from methacrylates, caprinatesand epoxies.

In general, optical cements are synthetic polymer adhesives and, inaccordance with the invention, may either be a two-component system thatis mixed in order to cure (either at room temperature utilizing a curingoven, or with a UV application), or a one-component system (which cureseither instantly, at room temperature over time or by UV application).In the inventive structure, the two stones are mounted together in avice or similar unit in order to hold them together in fixed positionfor enabling the cement to cure, as well as for keeping the cement freeof bubble accumulation.

Setting 15 may be constructed of precious or semi-precious metals (forexample—gold, silver, platinum) and defines a basket 17 comprising ashoulder or band 21, a base 23 and a series of posts 19 connectedbetween shoulder 21 and base 23. Together, shoulder 21, base 23 andconnecting posts 19 define a series of side openings or windows 22; base23 itself defines a bottom window 24.

Top stone 27 includes a tapered surface 29 that leads to a base portion35, while bottom stone 31 has a hemispherical surface 33 that leads to abase 37. In assembly, base portion 35 of top stone 27 and base portion37 of bottom stone 31 are disposed in an abutting relationship such thatshoulder or band 21 wraps around and otherwise hides the interfacebetween top stone 27 and bottom stone 31. In one form, the two stonesare held in position within setting 15 by a series of prongs 25 thatdepend from shoulder 21.

As can be appreciated, basket 17 of setting 15 permits substantialviewing of surface 33 of bottom stone 31, both from four different sidedirections through windows 22, as well as from underneath through window24. Surface 29 of top stone 27 is fully visible when ring assembly 11 isviewed from the top.

Significantly, the cut of top stone 27 and bottom stone 31 aresubstantially the same. Thus, once top stone 27 and bottom stone 31 areappropriately mounted in setting 15, a user looking directly downthrough top stone 27 and into bottom stone 31 will see a “kaleidoscope”effect, especially as ring assembly 11 is rotated.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, a pendant assembly made in accordance withthe invention and generally indicated at 111 is shown. The pendantassembly includes a setting 115 defined by a circular shoulder or bandin which two faceted stones 127 and 131 of different colors, placed oneon top of the other are mounted therewithin. As before, a circularshoulder or band 121 hides the interface between top stone 127 andbottom stone 131. Shoulder 121 has a pivoting loop 113 dependingtherefrom for use in supporting pendant assembly 111 on a jewelry chain.

In order to secure stones 127 and 131 in position within setting 115, afirst series of prongs 125 extend upwardly from shoulder 121 in order tograb top stone 127 and a second series of prongs 125 ¹ extend downwardlyfrom shoulder 121 for grabbing bottom stone 131.

FIG. 8 illustrates the incorporation of multiple units of the inventivedesign in a necklace 211. Necklace 211 incorporates a plurality ofmulti-stone units 213 interconnected by different length metal loopelements. Each multi-stone unit 213 is similar in design to the pendantassembly depicted in FIGS. 5-7, and includes a setting defined by ashoulder or band 221 in which one faceted stone 227 of a first color anda second faceted stone (not visible) of a second color are placed one ontop of the other. The stones are held in place via prongs 225, asdescribed before.

It will thus be seen that the object set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are attained by the design ofthe inventive jewelry item.

The scope of the invention will now be defined in the claims.

1. A jewelry item comprising: a first faceted stone of a first colorcomprising a faceted surface and a base portion; a second faceted stoneof a second color different from said first color having a facetedsurface and a base portion; wherein the base portions of said first andsecond stones abut one another such that said first stone is positionedon top of said second stone in order to define a stone unit.
 2. The itemof claim 1, further including a setting in which said stones are seated.3. The item of claim 2, wherein said setting includes a band forencircling said stone unit along where said base portions abut.
 4. Thejewelry item of claim 3, further including a band on which said settingis mounted.
 5. The jewelry item of claim 4, wherein said settingincludes a base element overlying a portion of the faceted surface ofsaid second stone and a plurality of post elements interconnectedbetween said band and said base element.
 6. The jewelry item of claim 3,wherein said encircling band includes a series of depending prongs forcapturing at least one of said stones.
 7. The jewelry item of claim 1,wherein said first and second stones each have a similar cut.
 8. Thejewelry item of claim 1, wherein each of said stones has a colorselected from the group consisting of green, blue, purple, red andyellow.
 9. The jewelry item of claim 5, wherein said setting furtherincludes a plurality of side windows, each separated from the other byone of said plurality of post elements, said windows enabling viewing ofsaid second stone.
 10. The jewelry item of claim 1, wherein said stonesare fixably positioned one on top of another by means of an opticalcement disposed between said base portions.
 11. The jewelry item ofclaim 10, wherein the optical cement is chosen from the group consistingof Canada balsam, methacrylates, caprinates and epoxies.
 12. The jewelryitem of claim 10, wherein the optical cement is chosen from one of aone-component cement system and a two-component cement system.
 13. Thejewelry item of claim 10, wherein the optical cement is selected fromthe group consisting of a room temperature curable optical cement, aheat curable optical cement and a UV curable optical cement.